Equity and Access

Published in the Research School of Physics Event Horizon
Vol42 Issue40 10–14 October 2016

From the RSPE Equity and Access Committee:

Research finds gender bias in Australian media

New research from The Australian National University (ANU) has found significant gender bias in Australia's political media. The research involved a contextual analysis of media coverage relating to the Julia Gillard's and Malcolm Turnbull's respective rises to the role of Prime Minister.

Researcher Blair Williams, a PhD Candidate with the ANU School of Politics and International Studies, said 58 per cent of articles about Julia Gillard becoming Prime Minister discussed her gender, with 44 per cent insinuating her femininity was not prime ministerial.

"Gillard experienced an abundance of gendered criticism," she said. "Even some female journalists focused on her gender when they spoke about her positively, talking about her flawless skin or fashion.

for more information, see: http://www.anu.edu.au/news/all-news/research-finds-gender-bias-in-australian-media